A police officer patrolling in the area around Albert Road, in Handsworth, discovered the injured men slumped on the ground after hearing the echo of between five and eight gunshots.

A police officer patrolling in the area around Albert Road, in Handsworth, discovered the injured men slumped on the ground after hearing the echo of between five and eight gunshots.

The officer raised the alarm after finding them lying in pools of blood in the quiet residential street shortly after 11pm yesterday and together with colleagues gave first aid until paramedics arrived.

West Midlands Police said a 36-year-old man had been blasted in the chest and a man aged 34 received a gunshot wound to the lower back.

Both victims were taken to hospital.

The 36-year-old was today said to be in a critical condition while the other victim was stable in hospital.

Detectives were hoping to speak with him later today in an attempt to find out what happened.

It is believed there was some sort of dispute between two groups of men shortly before the shooting and residents described hearing between five and eight gunshots.

Police said it was too early to say whether the incident was gang-related.

Meanwhile officers were today due to quiz two men in their 30s who were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following the incident.

Det Insp Russ Evans, from Thornhill Road CID, said: “There has possibly been some sort of dispute but it is still unclear what has happened.

“The scene remains cordoned off. Some forensic examination took place during the night and there will be more today. Officers will be returning to the scene to conduct house-to-house inquiries.”

A blue tent could be seen in the road at the scene of the shooting.

Jameel Kabare, 16, from nearby Murdock Road, said: “I heard five or six shots. It didn’t sound like they were fired from an automatic but they were very close together

“There was some tyres screeching and it sounded like a car or motorbike was driving off fast. It all went quite for a couple of minutes before the police got here.

“There were loads of police vehicles and the helicopter was flying about for an hour or so afterwards.”

Saria Khan, 34, from Centenary Drive, added: “I was just going to bed when I heard something like six or eight pops. It was just like fireworks, I only realised it might have been gunshots when I heard all of the sirens.”

A stretch of Albert Road between Rookery Road and Centenary Drive remained cordoned off by police today as officers carried out a painstaking search of the scene for vital clues to the incident. A section of nearby Murdock Road was also cordoned off.

A police spokesman said: “At approximately 11.05pm last night a police officer who was on patrol in Handsworth heard shots fired and found two men with gun-shot wounds.

“Two men in their 30s have been arrested. Inquiries are still on-going. Albert Road remains closed and anyone with information about the incident is urged to come forward.”

This is the third serious shooting in Birmingham in recent weeks.

In April, Dominique Grant, aged 20, from Edgbaston, was shot dead following an argument in nearby Uplands Road. A 21-year-old, also from Edgbaston, has been charged with his murder.

Two weeks ago a man was gunned down in a drive-by shooting outside the Flex Fitness gym in Moseley Street, Highgate, at about 11am on Saturday May 9.

Anyone with information can call detectives at Thornhill Road on 0845 113 5000.